ALPHADROME ROBOT AND SPACE TOY DATABASE

COSMIC SPACE SET - MAKER? - USA

These sets of dime store space toys turn up fairly regularly and yet the maker remains a mystery. The simple space toys are made of thin plastic, and have no moving parts. The feature that sets the apart is the imaginative design of the backing cards and the wonderful early space graphics on them. The spaceships and space cars are unique in design, but the spacemen are small, roughly modelled figures often based on Archer poses. The artwork may suggest a connection with Hale Nass of New York, circa 1953.

There are at least six sets, each with five units:

Cosmic Space Set: rocket shaped card with a selection of five small spaceships, space car, space cannon and spacemen.

Space Men: rocket shaped card with a selection of five small spacemen.

Space Cannon: rocket shaped card with a selection of five small plastic space weapons. These all have stands.

Rocket Space Cars: rocket shaped card with a selection of five small spaceships.

Space Ships: rocket shaped card with a selection of five small spaceships.

Space Train: backing card with a space city theme. The card holds a small five-piece plastic train set: two engines and three carriages.